Willis Robert "Billy" Drummond, Jr. (born June 19, 1959 in Newport News, Virginia ) is an American jazz drummer.
Drummond learned jazz from an early age from his father, who was a drummer and a jazz enthusiast and whose record collection included many recordings of Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Buddy Rich and Elvin Jones. He played in bands from age eight and studied at Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music .
He moved to New York at the behest of Al Foster in 1986 and shortly thereafter joined the Blue Note band, Out of the Blue , with whom he recorded their last album. He joined the Horace Silver sextet, with whom he toured extensively, before joining Sonny Rollins , with whom he toured for three years. He is a long-time member of Carla Bley 's Lost Chords Quartet, Sheila Jordan 's Quartet, and the Steve Kuhn Trio. He also leads a New York-based band called Freedom of Ideas. In addition to touring he is Professor of Jazz Drums at the Juilliard School and New York University .
A sideman on over 300 records, Drummond has played and recorded with Nat Adderley , Ralph Moore (1989 and subsequently), Buster Williams (1990–93), Charles Tolliver (1991), Lew Tabackin and Toshiko Akiyoshi , Hank Jones (1991), James Moody (early 1990s), Sonny Rollins , Andy LaVerne (1994), Lee Konitz (1995), Dave Stryker (1996), George Colligan (1997), Ted Rosenthal , Bruce Barth , Andrew Hill (from 1997–2000), Larry Willis (2006 to the present), Toots Thielmans, Freddie Hubbard (mid-1990s), Chris Potter , Eddie Gómez, Stanley Cowell , Javon Jackson , and Sheila Jordan (1990s to present). Influences include Tony Williams, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, Al Foster, Jack DeJohnette, and Billy Hart.
Together with his wife, pianist Renee Rosnes , Drummond has been a resident of West Orange, New Jersey.
1991 Native Colours (Criss Cross ) 1993 The Gift (Criss Cross ) 1995 Dubai (Criss Cross) As co-leader 2003 Pas de Trois The Drummonds 2006 Mysterious Shorter Nicholas Payton/Bob Belden/Sam Yahel/Billy Drummond/John Hart 2006 Once Upon a Time The Drummonds 2006 Letter to Evans The Drummonds 2006 Beautiful Friendship The Drummonds 2016 Three's Company Ron Carter /Javon Jackson /Billy Drummond As band member with OTB 1989 Spiral Staircase Out of the Blue with Nat Adderley The Old Country (Alfa, 1990)with Carla Bley 2003 Looking for America 2004 The Lost Chords 2007 The Lost Chords find Paolo Fresu 2008 Appearing Nightly As band member with Steve Kuhn 1997 Dedication 1998 Countdown 2000 The Best Things 2001 Temptation 2002 Waltz – Red Side 2002 Waltz – Blue Side 2004 Easy to Love 2007 Pastorale 2007 Baubles, Bangles and Beads 2007 Pavanne for a Dead Princess 2010 I Will Wait for You Old Country (1990) with Nat AdderleySam I Am (1990) with Sam Newsome In New York (1990) with Tomas FranckFor the Moment (1990 with Renee RosnesHornucopia (1991) with Jon Faddis John Swana and FriendsMirage (1991) with Bobby Hutcherson Better Times (1992) with Rob BargadThe Charmer (1992) with Charles Fambrough Epistrophy (1992) with Bill Pierce Simplicity (1992) with Walt Weiskopf Dawnbird (1993) with Vincent Herring Secret Love (1993) with Vincent Herring Blue Note Years (1993) with Joe Henderson Feeling's Mutual (1993) with John SwanaScheme of Things (1993) with Scott WendholtIn from the Cold (1994, Criss Cross) with Jonny King Days of Wine and Roses (1994) with Vincent HerringDearly Beloved (SteepleChase , 1996) with Lee Konitz Notes from the Underground (1996, Enja ) with Jonny KingBluesology with George Cables (SteepleChase , 1997)Out of Nowhere with Lee Konitz and Paul Bley (SteepleChase, 1997)RichLee! with Lee Konitz and Rich Perry (SteepleChase, 1997)True Blue (1998) with Archie Shepp Vertigo (1998) with Chris Potter Universal Spirits (1998) with Tim Ries Dusk Duke's Place (1999) with George MrazEverything I Need (1999) with Carol FredetteOut of the Dark (1999) with Andy FuscoPleasant Valley (1999) with Javon JacksonReemergence (1999) with Eddie Henderson Remembrance (1999) with Sadao Watanabe Rendezvous (1999) with Jerome Harris Search (1999) with Joel WeiskopfSound of Love (1999) with Tommy Smith Navigator (2000) with Joel FrahmAsk Me Now (2000) with Michael UrbaniakSiren (2000) with Walt Weiskopf Steal the Moon (2000) with Carolyn Leonhart Two Tenor Ballads (2000) with Mark Turner and Tadd ShullWhat Goes Unsaid (2000) with Scott WendholtOasis (2001) with Eddie Henderson Song (2001) with Marty Ehrlich Workin' Out (2001) with John Campbell Cedars of Avalon (2001) with Larry Coryell Alternate Side (2001) with Tim RiesDeja Vu (2001) with Archie SheppWaltz for Debbie (2002) with David HazeltineWurd on the Skreet (2002) with Donald Brown Line on Love (2003) with Marty Ehrlich Little Song (2003) with Sheila JordanStrings (2003) with Jim Snidero French Ballads (2003) with Archie SheppDeja Vu (2003) with Archie SheppThe Lost Chords (2003) with Carla BleyDream Dancing (2004) with Steve KuhnClose Up (2004) with Jim SnideroTea for Two (2004) with Walt Weiskopf/Andy Fusco QuartetSight to Sound (2004) with Walt WeiskopfWinter Sonata (2004) with Gary VersaceCleopatra's Dream (2006) David HazeltineManhattan (2006) David Hazeltine/George Mraz TrioPastorale (2007) with Steve KuhnBaubles, Bangles and Beads (2007) with Steve KuhnPavanne for a Dead Princess (2007) with Steve KuhnThe Lost Chords Find Paolo Fresu (2007) with Carla BleyNew Conversations (2007) with Carla BleyBlue Fable (2007) with Larry Willis Nights of Key Largo (2008) with Tessa Souter Moon River (2008) with Nicki ParrottOffering (2008) with Larry WillisOnce Upon a Melody (2008) with Javon JacksonBeautiful Love: The NYC Session (2008) with Al Di Meola , Eddie Gómez, Yujata KobayaAppearing Nightly (2008) with Carla BleyArt of Organizing (2009) with Dr. Lonnie SmithChick Corea Songbook (2009) with The Manhattan Transfer Mutual Admiration Society (2009) with Joe Locke/David HazeltineNew Moon (2009) with Ron McLureMays at the Movies (2009) with Bill Mays Crossfire (2009) with Jim SnideroOne Night at the Kitano (2009) with Jed LevyFly Me to the Moon (2009) with Nicki ParrottMays at the Movies (2009) with Bill MaysThe Decider (2009) with Peter Zak All My Friends are Here (2010) with Arif Mardin compilationI Will Wait for You (2010) with Steve KuhnInvitation (2010) with Beat Kaestli Cedar Chest (2010) The Music of Cedar Walton compilationFor All We Know (2010) with Eddie HendersonNew York Encounter (2010) with Yakov Okun TrioSteeplechase Jam Session Volume 29 (2010) Andy LaverneSteeplechase Jam Session Volume 30 (2010) Don Braden Dedication (2010) with Ron McClureLive at Smalls (2011) with Tim RiesLive at Smalls (2011) with Jesse DavisBeyond the Blue (2012) with Tessa Souter Home Tone (2012) with Tony LakatosNordic Noon (2012) with Peter Zak Jazz in the New Harmonic (2013) with David Chesky The Eternal Triangle (2013) with Peter ZakHomeland (2014) with Vincent HsuAre You Real (2014) with Stanley Cowell Leap of Faith (2015) with Burak Bedikyan Primal Scream (2015) with David Chesky Rambling Confessions (2015) with John HebertSing to the Sky (2015) with Emma LarssonTales, Musings, and Other Reveries (2015) with Jeremy PeltReminiscent (2015) with Stanley CowellStandards (2016) with Peter ZakEn Rouge (2016) with Atlantico (Dave Schroeder/Sebastien Paindestre)Jive Culture (2016) with Jeremy Pelt
